Gilani may announce parliamentary probe
The proposal, if accepted, will ask opposition to join the panel and help fix responsibility for the operation.
ISLAMABAD:
In a damage-control exercise, the government is contemplating several measures, including a parliamentary probe into the Abbottabad operation which embarrassed the country’s civilian and military leadership alike.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani is expected to announce the move during his address to parliament on Monday (today) to brief the nation over the controversy surrounding the death of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, The Express Tribune has learnt. Officials say that the government’s step is aimed at redeeming itself from the scathing criticism over the ignorance by the civilian and military authorities of Bin Laden’s whereabouts and the US midnight raid.
The suggestion, if finalised, will ask opposition members to join the proposed parliamentary panel to determine people who were actually responsible for the failure to track the world’s most recognised face in Abbottabad, a town with a strong military presence. Some officials have suggested that the parliamentary committee on national security should be asked to take up the case, instead of setting up a separate panel. The parliamentary panel formed after the joint resolution of parliament in October 2008 is headed by senior PPP leader Mian Raza Rabbani and has representation from all political parties.
However, a final decision will be taken on Monday morning, the sources added.
The suggestion was part of the several other steps discussed at the meeting of the ‘troika’ – the president, prime minister and the army chief on Saturday.
A government announcement after the meeting said the prime minister will take the nation into confidence over the Abbottabad operation.
No official was available to discuss the possible measures the premier might propose to restore the credibility of the country’s civilian and military leadership. But some government ministers indicated that the government would affix the responsibility of the bin Laden debacle.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani said the government “must conduct thorough investigation into the incident”.
Although the army chief had already ordered an investigation into the lapse, the government wants to take the lead in an effort to dispel the growing impression that the civilian leadership is ineffective in matters of national security.
The move is also aimed at deflecting the increasing pressure on the president and the prime minister to quit over the controversy.
Also on Sunday, a protest rally of about 500 Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) activists launched a biting public criticism against the country’s military over the violation of the country’s sovereignty by the US.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 9th, 2011.
In a damage-control exercise, the government is contemplating several measures, including a parliamentary probe into the Abbottabad operation which embarrassed the country’s civilian and military leadership alike.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani is expected to announce the move during his address to parliament on Monday (today) to brief the nation over the controversy surrounding the death of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, The Express Tribune has learnt. Officials say that the government’s step is aimed at redeeming itself from the scathing criticism over the ignorance by the civilian and military authorities of Bin Laden’s whereabouts and the US midnight raid.
The suggestion, if finalised, will ask opposition members to join the proposed parliamentary panel to determine people who were actually responsible for the failure to track the world’s most recognised face in Abbottabad, a town with a strong military presence. Some officials have suggested that the parliamentary committee on national security should be asked to take up the case, instead of setting up a separate panel. The parliamentary panel formed after the joint resolution of parliament in October 2008 is headed by senior PPP leader Mian Raza Rabbani and has representation from all political parties.
However, a final decision will be taken on Monday morning, the sources added.
The suggestion was part of the several other steps discussed at the meeting of the ‘troika’ – the president, prime minister and the army chief on Saturday.
A government announcement after the meeting said the prime minister will take the nation into confidence over the Abbottabad operation.
No official was available to discuss the possible measures the premier might propose to restore the credibility of the country’s civilian and military leadership. But some government ministers indicated that the government would affix the responsibility of the bin Laden debacle.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani said the government “must conduct thorough investigation into the incident”.
Although the army chief had already ordered an investigation into the lapse, the government wants to take the lead in an effort to dispel the growing impression that the civilian leadership is ineffective in matters of national security.
The move is also aimed at deflecting the increasing pressure on the president and the prime minister to quit over the controversy.
Also on Sunday, a protest rally of about 500 Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) activists launched a biting public criticism against the country’s military over the violation of the country’s sovereignty by the US.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 9th, 2011.